PARENT S GUIDE TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Transcription

1 PARENT S GUIDE TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 Hillsborough County Public Schools school calendar Teacher Pre-Planning August 12-19, 2013 Students First Day of School August 20, 2013 Labor Day / Non Student Day September 2, 2013 End of First Grading Period October 18, 2013 Non-Student Day October 21, 2013 Veterans Day / Non-Student Day November 11, 2013 Fall Break: District Offices Closed November 25-29, 2013 Students Return to School December 2, 2013 Winter Break: District Offices Closed December 23, January 3, 2014 Students Return to School January 6, 2014 End of Second Grading Period / First Semester January 17, 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Non-Student Day / District Is Closed January 20, 2014 Teacher Work Day / Non-Student Day January 21, 2014 Students Day at the Fair (West Hillsborough County) February 7, 2014 Strawberry Festival / Non-Student Day (East Hillsborough County) March 3, 2014 Spring Holiday / Non-Student Days / District Is Closed March 10-14, 2014 Students Return to School March 17, 2014 End of Third Grading Period March 28, 2014 Non-Student Day April 18, 2014 Memorial Day / Non-Student Day / District Is Closed May 26, 2014 Last Day of School / End of Fourth Grading Period/ (Second Semester) Dismissed 2.5 Hours Early June 6, 2014 Teacher Post-Planning June 9, 2014 * Conference Days Dates and times are determined by individual schools. Student Early Release Each Monday, one hour early release. A message from Hillsborough County Public Schools Dear parents: Our school district is fortunate and proud to have tremendous teachers, principals and support personnel. But we know that involved parents are essential for student success. That s why we make a concerted effort to keep parents informed and provide opportunities for parents to get involved in their student s education. We encourage parents to take advantage of all the traditional means of communication with teachers and principals. We urge you to attend parent conferences and school events and to stay in touch with your child s teacher. All our teachers have addresses, and principals will keep you informed with notes sent home with your child or with automated phone messages. Our school district also provides a great deal of information via a gradebook tool called Edsby, which is a communications tool that provides a window to your student s grades and classroom work. This is a new feature for our school district and we re excited about its potential to keep parents engaged and informed. In addition, the district has an informative website, sdhc.k12.fl.us, and a Facebook page where we will highlight the accomplishments of our students and employees, as well as provide important news. These initiatives alone will not ensure that every child is successful. We need your continued involvement, engagement and support in your child s education to complete the process and ensure their success. Table of contents District and general information District Calendar, Message from the Superintendent/Board Chair... 2 Parent s Checklist... 3 District Parent Involvement Rules... 4 SERVE Volunteers... 4 School-Based Parent/Family Workshops... 4 Anti-Bullying Policy... 4 Adult Education... 4 PTA/PTSA... 4 School Advisory Council... 4 Parent University... 4 Health & Nutrition Information... 5 State and District Expectations for Academic Proficiency... 6 Graduation Requirements/Student Progression Plan... 6 Early Childhood Programs... 7 School Board Members/Area Directors... 7 How to Advocate for Your Child... 7 Wellness Integration for Students of Hillsborough (WISH)... 8 FCAT & 9 FCAT Schedule... 9 INFORMATION ON SERVICES PARENT RESOURCES Family Literacy Services FCAT Explorer Website Math Homework Hotline Hillsborough Out of School Time (HOST) School Psychological Services School Social Work Services School Health Services Attendance School Improvement Plan Full-Service Resource Center(s) Severely and Emotionally Disturbed Network Guidance Services Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Academic Advisement Edsby Mentoring Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS)...11 District Publications ParentLink Scholarship Opportunities InSync No Child Left Behind Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Qualifications of Teachers Empowering Effective Teachers Common Core State Standards Myon Reader RIGOROUS ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES Academically Gifted Program Dual Enrollment Advanced Placement Program Hillsborough Virtual School International Baccalaureate Early Admission to College Avid EXCELerator SpringBoard EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION Keeping Good Records Accommodations Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA)...15 EDUCATIONAL CHOICES Attendance Area Schools Career and Technical Education Career Centers Charter Schools Hillsborough Virtual School Home Education John M. McKay Scholarships Magnet Schools School Choice OTHER PROGRAMS School-Based and Non-School-Based Programs ELL Program and ESOL Services Programs for Specialized Populations Adult Education Programs Hillsborough County Public Schools List & 19 Contact Information tampabay.com/nie

3 A parent s checklist Are you using good parenting skills? Answer these questions to see how you are doing. Do you follow these guidelines always, sometimes or never? Attendance I expect my child to go to school every day, be on time and stay for the entire day. Communication I call the school s attendance line to report my child s absence. I attend scheduled conferences. I ask for a conference with the teacher if I have a concern. I inform the teacher of anything that may have an effect on my child s performance or behavior. I read and act on information sent home about my child s achievement. I talk with my child and know what he or she is doing and with whom. I talk with my child and help him or her set goals. Health I schedule visits to the doctor and dentist. I set a bedtime that lets my child get nine hours of sleep. I provide healthy meals and snacks. I talk with my child about the dangers of abusing alcohol and drugs. Interest I set aside time each day for my child to share with me what he or she has done in school. I review my child s report card and help him or her set goals for doing better. I read with my child every day. Expectations I set high expectations for my child s behavior and achievement at school. I expect my child to ask for help when he or she needs it. I expect my child to finish all class and homework assignments. I expect my child to respect others. I expect my child to get a high school diploma and seek additional education. Volunteerism I set a good example for my child by helping at my child s school and in the community. Encouragement I praise my child for his or her good behavior and effort. I display my child s schoolwork on a wall, refrigerator or bulletin board. Hillsborough County School Board meetings School Board meetings are aired on the Education Channel, Bright House Networks Channel 614 and Verizon Channel 32, Tuesdays at 3 p.m. and replayed Sundays at 9 a.m. Meetings also are streamed live on the district website, e2buh2k.com/sdhc/index.html and are archived at later dates. Hillsborough County School Board Members Doretha W. Edgecomb, April Griffin, Carol W. Kurdell, Candy Olson, Cindy Stuart, Susan L. Valdes and Stacy R. White, Pharm.D. Mission & Vision Mission: To provide an education that enables each student to excel as a successful and responsible citizen. Vision: To become the nation s leader in developing successful students. Newspaper in Education The Tampa Bay Times Newspaper in Education (NIE) program is a cooperative effort between schools and the Times to promote the use of newspapers in print and electronic form as educational resources. Since the mid-1970s, NIE has provided schools with class sets of the Times, plus our awardwinning original curriculum, at no cost to teachers or schools. With ever-shrinking school budgets, the newspaper has become an invaluable tool to teachers. In the Tampa Bay area, the Times Publishing provides more than 5 million free newspapers and electronic licenses for teachers to use in their classrooms every school year. The Times and our NIE curriculum are rich educational resources, offering teachers an up-tothe-minute, living text and source for countless projects in virtually every content area. Teachers, ordernie@tampabay.com to become an NIE teacher. For information about how you can donate to NIE, call , ext or visit tampabay.com/nie. Learn more about NIE on our website: tampabay. com/nie. Keep in the know about the Tampa Bay Times Newspaper in Education program by following us on Twitter: twitter.com/tbtimesnie. Newspaper in Education Staff Jodi Pushkin, manager, jpushkin@tampabay.com Sue Bedry, development specialist, sbedry@tampabay.com Credits Project manager: Jodi Pushkin, NIE manager Designed by Stacy Rector, Times staff Hillsborough County Public Schools Office of Parent/Family Involvement & Community Involvement MaryLou Whaley, Director Ame Silverstein, D.R.T. Tampa Bay Times 2013 The Pepsi Bottling Group provided sponsorship funds for this NIE publication tampabay.com/nie 3

4 Parental involvement opportunities Mentoring See Page 11. SERVE: Volunteers in Education SERVE is a private nonprofit agency that is the volunteer arm of the school district. SERVE recruits, screens, trains, retains and rewards volunteers supporting the schools. SERVE volunteers work in public and charter schools and sites throughout Hillsborough County. Volunteers engage students in kindergarten through 12th grade as well as adult learners. SERVE provides training for parents, students and individuals who want to volunteer. To volunteer or get more information, call SERVE at or visit servevolunteers.org. School-based parent/family workshops A variety of workshops is offered by each school to deepen parents knowledge and skills to help students succeed socially and academically. Please look for information in the school newsletter or contact your child s school. Adult education Parenting classes are offered through the family literacy program for adult education students to increase involvement in their child s education and to assist parents in obtaining the educational skills necessary to become full partners in the educational development of their children. Please call the Hillsborough County Public Schools Department of Adult Education at or log on to ace.mysdhc.org for additional information. See the Adult Education sites list to find a location near you. Hillsborough County Public Schools Department of Adult and Community Education 5410 N. 20th St., Tampa, FL ace.mysdhc.org PTA/PTSA Parent Teacher Associations/Parent Teacher Student Associations provide a way for parents, teachers, administrators, students and community members to discuss education concerns and work together to promote high student achievement and help every child succeed. PTA/PTSAs build up the school community by offering a wide range of programs and resources. Contact your child s school for more information. School Advisory Council (SAC) The purpose of the SAC is to assist the principal and faculty in the development, implementation and monitoring of the School Improvement Plan (SIP) required in accountability laws. SAC meetings are open to the entire school staff, parents and community. These attendees may participate in the discussion of topics; however, only the elected positions can vote on issues. Elected members of the SAC must include, but are not limited to, the following individual representatives within the stakeholder groups: principal, teacher representative, CTA teacher representative, CTA educational support personnel representatives, non-instructional personnel representatives, parents, business/community partners and students. District policy/rules against bullying and harassment It is the policy of Hillsborough County Public Schools that all of its students and school employees have an educational setting that is safe, secure and free from harassment and bullying of any kind. Hillsborough County Public Schools expects students and school employees to conduct themselves appropriately for their levels of development, maturity and demonstrated capabilities, with a proper regard for the rights and welfare of other students and school staff, the educational purpose underlying all school activities and the care of school facilities and equipment. Bullying means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students or employees. It is further defined as unwanted and repeated written, verbal or physical behavior, including any threatening, insulting or dehumanizing gesture, by a student or adult, that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment; cause discomfort or humiliation; or unreasonably interfere with the individual s school performance or participation; and may involve, but is not limited to, teasing; social exclusion; threats; intimidation; stalking; cyber bullying; cyberstalking; physical violence; theft; sexual, religious or racial harassment; public humiliation; and destruction. The school district upholds that school-related bullying or harassment of any student or school employee is prohibited during any education program or activity conducted by a school, during any school-related or school-sponsored program or activity, on a school bus or at a school bus stop, or through the use of data or computer software that is accessed through a computer, computer system or computer network of school sites. Students and/or parents may report acts of bullying on our district website, in person, on bully reporting forms available at every school or by calling Crimestoppers. All reports go directly to the principal or assistant principal of the respective school to investigate and resolve. For additional information, please visit sdhc.k12.fl.us. PLANT CITY August 24, 2013 Saturday 8:00 am JEFFERSON September 28, 2013 Saturday 8:00 am GAITHER October 26, 2013 Saturday 8:00 am FLORIDA EXPO December 2013 TBA TBA TBA January 2014 TBA TBA ARMWOOD March 1, 2014 Saturday 8:00 am Parents with children enrolled in Hillsborough County Public Schools are invited to attend a series of informational sessions designed to support the academic life of children. This project is a collaboration of Hillsborough County Public Schools, the Hillsborough Alliance for Public Schools, the United Way Suncoast and the Hillsborough County Council PTA. 4 tampabay.com/nie

5 Student nutrition services Our mission is to maintain an innovative, efficient and cost-effective student nutrition program that is nationally regarded as the best. Both schools and the community embrace and actively support the importance of student nutrition as a vital part of daily education. We provide the following resources for parents and students: National School Lunch Program Free Breakfast Program for all students Summer Food Service Program After-School Snack and Dinner Program Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Online Meal Payments and Tracking Applying for meal benefits is easy and convenient with online applications! Complete a meal benefits application in the comfort of your own home or office Follow easy, step-by-step instructions Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in English and Spanish Avoid delays through school or the U.S. mail For more information or to apply for free/reduced meal benefits, visit us online at sdhc.k12.fl.us/sns. Hillsborough healthy students a partnership with Florida KidCare In a partnership created through the Kids HealthCare Foundation, Florida KidCare and Hillsborough County Public Schools are working together to educate families about this affordable program. Florida KidCare provides comprehensive health insurance coverage for children from birth through age 18. Florida KidCare provides coverage for doctor s visits, immunizations, surgery, vision, mental health checkups, hospitalization, prescriptions, hearing and more. Eligibility and premiums are based on household income and family size. Florida KidCare application assistance is available through School Social Work. For more information, call , ext Immunization requirements for entry into Florida schools Students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are coming into a Florida school for the first time must present a record of a physical examination completed within the last 12 months. Contact your physician or the Hillsborough County Health Department. Immunizations are provided free at the Health Department. Immunization requirements for school entry school year Varicella (chicken pox) (kindergarten 5th grade) 2 doses Varicella (chicken pox) (6th 12th grade) 1 dose DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) 5 doses Polio (kindergarten) 3-5 doses Polio (1st 12th grade) 4 doses MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) (kindergarten 12th grade) 2 doses Hepatitis B (kindergarten 12th grade) 3 doses Tdap (tetanus & diphtheria, pertussis) (7th & 11th grade) 1 dose Td (tetanus & diphtheria) or Tdap (tetanus & diphtheria, pertussis) (12th grade) 1 dose The immunization record must show that the student has met the minimum state requirement. Meningococcal Disease Although not required, a dose of MCV4 is recommended for children and adolescents years of age. Meningococcal disease is a serious illness caused by bacteria. It is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children 2-18 years old in the United States. For those who have never gotten MCV4, a dose is recommended at high school entry. Other adolescents who want to decrease their risk of meningococcal disease also can get the vaccine. MCV4 is the preferred vaccine for people 2 55 years of age. Hillsborough County Health Department Clinic Main Clinic Tampa 1105 E. Kennedy Blvd., tampabay.com/nie 5

6 PASOS AL FUTURO College Planning Nights in Spanish October 1, 2013 ALONSO 6:30 pm October 8, 2013 HILLSBOROUGH 6:30 pm October 10, 2013 EAST BAY 6:30 pm October 15, 2013 GAITHER 6:30 pm October 22, 2013 JEFFERSON 6:30 pm October 29, 2013 LENNARD 6:30 pm November 7, 2013 LETO 6:30 pm November 12, 2013 PLANT CITY 6:30 pm November 14, 2013 TAMPA BAY TECH 6:30 pm November 19, 2013 SPOTO 6:30 pm March 6, 2014 LENNARD 6:30 pm March 20, 2014 STRAWBERRY CREST 6:30 pm March 22, 2014 WHARTON 9:30 am (Sat.) COLLEGE NIGHT DATES Sickles High School, Monday, September 23, 2013 Plant High School, Tuesday, September 24, 2013 Chamberlain High School, Wednesday, September 25, 2013 Brandon High School, Thursday, September 26, 2013 Career and College Fest Fall 2013 Florida State Fairgrounds - Entertainment Hall Contact the Career and Technical Education office or the guidance department at your child s school for additional information. Reporting student progress When used as part of an assessment plan, traditional tests may lend themselves to a percentage grading scale. When appropriate, teachers in grades K-5 will use the same grading scale identified for grades Scores generated from tests and data from other forms of assessment should be combined to evaluate student progress. Hillsborough County Grading Scale A = B = C = D = F = 0-59 Graduation requirements * State and district expectations The Next Generation Sunshine State Standards and the Common Core State Standards for all elementary, middle and high school content areas are at the Florida Department of Education website: flstandards.org and at the district website: sdhc.k12.fl.us. If you don t have access to a computer, you can call or visit your child s school to set up a time to view a copy of the standards. Courses of study Career Preparatory: This course of study includes one of the following career/technical education programs and prepares the student to attend a community college or an adult technical center: Agriscience, Business Technology, Health Science, Family and Consumer Sciences, Industrial Education, Marketing and Diversified Education, Public Service or Technology Education. Students who want to earn a Gold Seal Vocational scholarship should contact a counselor for more information. College Preparatory/ Career Preparatory: This course of study is designed to prepare students for a four-year college or university through a combination of academic and career/ technical electives. To enter a Florida university, the student must fulfill the requirements of courses identified by the Florida State University System. In addition, the student is expected to take the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT), SAT or ACT prior to graduation and score at or above the established statewide passing score in each test area. As a student nears graduation, he/she may opt to complete either the College Prep or Career Prep option instead of the combination. College Preparatory: This course of study includes a rigorous level of both required and elective college preparatory courses. To enter a Florida university, the student must fulfill requirements of the courses identified by the Florida State University System and qualify for college admissions with an acceptable PERT, SAT or ACT score. Opportunities to earn college credits, achieve high college admissions test scores and prepare for admissions to prestigious universities and military academies are only a few of the advantages of this course of study. PERSONALIZED ACADEMIC AND CAREER PLAN Students will begin career exploration and educational planning during their middle school years. These students will develop a four-year career and education plan for high school that will be shared with their parents. Prior to the beginning of the ninth grade year, students will select a graduation plan. This selection is indicated on each student s career and education plan. The parent must sign the plan. This plan will be reviewed annually for any necessary revisions. If it becomes necessary to change the graduation plan, the student and parent will need to update the career and education plan and submit the revised plan, with parent signature, to the school counselor. An explanation of the requirements for regular diploma graduation plans can be found on the school district website. For additional information, please contact the school guidance counselor at your child s school. Graduation Standards and Benchmarks Every graduate earning a standard high school diploma must: Earn at least 24 required credits or qualify for the 18-credit option in one of the courses of study. See your guidance counselor for detailed information. Earn a cumulative unweighted grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 for all credits under the 24-credit option. Score at least 3.0 out of 6.0 on the senior high FCAT Writes! or Hillsborough Writes! Achieve a qualifying score on the required state assessments. Promotion requirements/ student progression plan Hillsborough County Public Schools, mission is to provide an education that enables each student to excel as a successful and responsible citizen. Students will be placed in programs and levels best suited to meet their academic needs, with consideration given to their social, emotional and physical development, to ensure their total and continuous development. Decisions regarding student promotion, retention and special placement are primarily the responsibility of the individual school s professional staff. Promotion is based on student achievement. Instruction will be offered in each school that complies with the State Board of Education adopted student performance standards. These standards, known as the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards and the Common Core Standards, are incorporated into appropriate courses in all subject areas in grades kindergarten through adult. Instruction addressing career awareness will be offered in each school. Provisions shall be made for all students to participate fully in classroom instruction and extracurricular activities. No student will be denied participation because of age, sex, race, disability, religion, national origin or any other reason not related to his or her individual capabilities. Instruction in comprehensive health education and substance abuse prevention shall be offered. When exceptional abilities and skills are demonstrated, the student may be considered for advanced academic opportunities. In exceptional cases, a student will be referred to a county-level special placement committee for placement in a grade level other than the grade assigned, in accordance with school board policy. *Pending state legislative changes 6 tampabay.com/nie

7 How to advocate for your child The most effective way to deal with problems or questions about your child s education is to follow these steps. We can t solve every problem, but we pledge to try to reach an acceptable outcome. Step 1: Talk to your child s teacher. Step 2: Talk to the assistant principal. Step 3: Talk to the principal. Step 4: Call or the area leadership director.* Step 5: Call or the assistant superintendent for administration. Lewis Brinson Lewis.Brinson@sdhc.k12.fl.us Step 6: Call or the deputy superintendent. Jeffrey Eakins Jeffrey.Eakins@sdhc.k12.fl.us Step 7: Call or the superintendent. MaryEllen Elia MaryEllen.Elia@sdhc.k12.fl.us Step 8: Call or a school board member.** Area leadership director contact information Area 1: Southwest Central Tampa Maribeth Brooks Maribeth.Brooks@sdhc.k12.fl.us Area 2: Town N Country Northwest Hillsborough Lisa Yost Lisa.Yost@sdhc.k12.fl.us Area 3: New Tampa North Hillsborough Brenda Grasso Brenda.Grasso@sdhc.k12.fl.us Area 4: Central North Tampa Henry Washington Henry.Washington@sdhc.k12.fl.us Area 5: Southeast Hillsborough Sherrie Sikes Sherrie.Sikes@sdhc.k12.fl.us Area 6: Plant City East Hillsborough Jerry Jackson Jerry.Jackson@sdhc.k12.fl.us Area 7: Northeast Tampa Brandon Larry Sykes Larry.Sykes@sdhc.k12.fl.us Area 8: Southeast Hillsborough Christopher Farkas Christopher.Farkas@sdhc.k12.fl.us Early childhood learning programs: Preparing children for success Child care resource and referral Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) is a community service organization that works with parents, child care providers, businesses and community organizations to help promote the accessibility of quality child care services in Hillsborough County. CCR&R provides parents with a computer-generated child care referral list based on the family s needs. To contact Child Care Resource and Referral, call Pre-K Exceptional Education Special instructional services are provided for approximately 3,100 children ages 3 to 5 with developmental delays or disabilities. The Pre-Kindergarten Exceptional Education program offers early intervention to improve each child s level of functioning and enhance successful entry into kindergarten, with appropriate support based on individual need. To make a referral, contact Child Find at Head Start Head Start is a nationwide program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of 3- and 4-year-olds. Services are provided in the areas of education, health nutrition, social and other services. The state Voluntary Pre- Kindergarten (VPK) program also is offered during the school year at selected sites. For more information, please visit the district s website. Use the Quick Links menu and select Head Start or contact School Readiness program The School Readiness program provides financial assistance for child care and early education to low-income working parents and families referred by partner agencies. The goal of the School Readiness program is to provide safe, healthy and quality early educational experiences that support enhanced outcomes for children, their families and the surrounding communities. Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Education Program (VPK) The VPK program is designed to prepare children for kindergarten and build a foundation for their educational success. It is a state-funded program that is free for all 4- and 5-year-old children who are eligible (for the first time) to attend kindergarten in the fall. Hillsborough County Public Schools offers both school-year and summer-session options. VPK programs are also available at eligible private facilities for the school year and for the summer program. For more information on the HCPS VPK program, parents may call the VPK office at ** Hillsborough County School Board Member contact information Main school board office telephone number: District 2 Candy Olson Candy.Olson@sdhc.k12.fl.us District 4 Stacy R. White, Pharm.D. Stacy.White@sdhc.k12.fl.us District 6 April Griffin April.Griffin@sdhc.k12.fl.us District 1 Susan L. Valdes Susan.Valdes@sdhc.k12.fl.us District 3 Cindy Stuart Cindy.Stuart@sdhc.k12.fl.us District 5 Doretha W. Edgecomb Doretha.Edgecomb@sdhc.k12.fl.us District 7 Carol W. Kurdell Carol.Kurdell@sdhc.k12.fl.us tampabay.com/nie 7

8 Wellness Integration for Students of Hillsborough WISH The WISH website, found at includes a Parent Toolbox! A U.S. Department of Education grant, integrating schools and mental health systems made the development of WISH possible. You will find user-friendly access to quality mental health services for our students and families by means of effective linkages between the school and mental health systems in Hillsborough County. The Parent Toolbox website provides information for educators, students, families, community agencies and others who serve children on a regular basis. There are links to: Who Can Help at Your School, which includes school district resources Typical Concerns, which addresses most behavioral issues Local and community resources for directories, parenting classes and agencies by specialties State and national links for your questions on current prevention and mental health issues We hope you will find answers to your questions regarding who, where and how to find the help you need when your child faces emotional, behavioral or development challenges that may interfere with learning and good relationships with family and friends. FCAT 2.0: What s it all about? What parents can expect to receive in assessment results FCAT is a series of tests that all children attending Florida public schools are required to take between grades three and 10. The FCAT is part of Florida s plan to improve student achievement. The FCAT 2.0 This is a criterion-referenced test (CRT) that measures how well students are meeting the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards in reading, writing, mathematics and science. How can I help my child do well? You can help your child get ready for the FCAT by doing these simple things at home: Encourage your child to read different kinds of fiction and nonfiction, including books, newspapers and magazines. Encourage your child to read at least 30 minutes a day without a break. Take your child to the library regularly to check out and read books and magazines. Ask your child to retell stories he or she has read. Ask your child why questions about what he or she has read. Ask your child to compare and contrast stories and characters. What if my child is not doing well in school? As a parent, you may be disappointed and frustrated when your child brings home bad grades or does not score well on standardized tests. There are many possible reasons your child is not doing well in school. You and your child s teacher can work together to figure out the best way to help your child do better. Here are a few tips for dealing with poor school performance: Try not to become too emotional about your child s situation. Instead, try to learn how you can best help your child make a change for the better. Meet with your child s teacher and commit yourself to working together as a team. Find ways for your child to practice writing at home, such as by writing notes to family members. 8 tampabay.com/nie

9 Provide a quiet, comfortable place to study at home. Provide regular encouragement to your child, especially when he or she has done well. Here are a few more things you can do as a parent right before the test: Keep a positive attitude toward the test. Help your child relax. Make sure that your child has a good night s rest. Give your child a good breakfast. Keep a normal routine at home. Special testing accommodations If your child is enrolled in an Exceptional Student Education or English Language Learner program or has a 504 accommodations plan, he or she may be eligible for special testing situations or accommodations. You may want to check with the school for more information well in advance of testing dates. FCAT 2.0 expectations Children are expected to: Take skills and use them in real-life, problemsolving situations Solve multistep problems Understand and use information Get the main idea from reading Write and organize thoughts Test anxiety The U.S. Department of Education defines test anxiety as excessive worry about doing well on a test. This can be very bad for a student. Ultimately, the student becomes so upset about the test that he or she panics and then feels helpless about the subject matter. Parents, you can be a great help in assisting your children with avoiding test anxiety. Encourage children and praise them for the things they do well. When children feel good about themselves, they will do their best. Ask the teacher to suggest activities for you and your child to do at home to help prepare for tests and improve your child s understanding of school work. Working with teachers is a benefit to parents and children. Make sure your child attends school regularly. Remember that tests do reflect a child s overall achievement. The more effort and energy a child puts into learning, the more likely it is that a child will do well on tests. Provide a quiet, comfortable place for studying at home. Be sure your child is well rested on school days and especially the day of a test. Give your child a healthy diet. For more information, contact the Florida Department of Education: fldoe.org. FCAT 2.0 in a nutshell FCAT 2.0 stands for Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test version 2. FCAT is based on the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. The Next Generation Sunshine State Standards indicate what students are expected to know. FCAT has different types of questions: multiple choice and gridded response. In grades three through eight, students are tested in reading and math. Seventh-grade students take civics end of year course tests. When enrolled, students will take the appropriate End of Course assessments in algebra, geometry, biology or history. In grades four, eight and 10, students are tested in writing. In grades five and eight, students are tested in science. Schools use FCAT scores to improve instruction. School districts use FCAT to determine if schools are teaching to meet the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. Florida uses FCAT as part of the criteria for grading schools from A to F. Schools that have low FCAT scores are given state assistance to make improvements. Parents use FCAT as one measure of how their children are achieving in school. FCAT questions are challenging. FCAT 2.0 Schedule (Tentative) October 7 18, 2013 Grade 11 Reading Next Generation Sunshine State Standards Test February 25 26, 2014 Grades 4, 8 and 10 Writing Sunshine State Standards Test April 22 May 7, 2014 Grades 3-10 Reading Next Generation Sunshine State Standards Test Grades 3 8 Mathematics Next Generation Sunshine State Standards Test Grades 5 and 8 Science Next Generation Sunshine State Standards Test April 7 11, 2014 Grade 11 Adult Reading Next Generation Sunshine State Standards Test End of Course (EOC) Tests Semester 1: December 2 20, 2013 History EOC Test Algebra I EOC Test Biology EOC Test Geometry EOC Test Semester 2: April 28 May 23, 2014 U.S. History EOC Test Algebra I EOC Test Geometry EOC Test Biology EOC Test Other Assessments/Screenings January 27 March 7, 2014 Grades 4, 8 and 12 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Economics Grade 8 Technology and Engineering Literarcy (TEL) (Selected schools only) tampabay.com/nie 9

10 Services that are available to parents Family literacy services Adult Education: The Adult Education program provides educational opportunities to more than 30,000 adult students 16 years of age or older in the areas of adult basic education (ABE), general educational development (GED), adult high school credit, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), citizenship, vocational preparation instruction, workplace readiness skills, family literacy and career/technical educational opportunities. The CARIBE program provides free English language classes and vocational/career training to adult foreign nationals who enter the United States with refugee status. For more information, call Short-term, customized courses are offered to address community interests and needs, such as work force development and recreation/enrichment classes. Call FCAT Explorer Explore the FCAT. Navigate through Galactic Library, Reading Odyssey, Reading Island, Reading Timeline, Math Station, Math Navigator and Math Timeline. To get your child s sign-in name and password, contact your child s school. The website is fcatexplorer.com. Math homework hotline Assistance with math homework is available Thursday nights from 6 to 7 p.m. on the Education Channel: Bright House Channel 614 and Verizon FIOS Channel 32. Tutors will begin taking calls at 5:30 p.m. at Visit us on the Web at mhh.mysdhc.org. Before- and after-school programs Hillsborough out-of-school time (HOST) The district offers fee-based before- and after-school and summer programs for children and youth attending elementary and middle school. Call , extension 3. For additional information, inquire at your child s school or visit host.mysdhc.org. School psychological services Psychological services are available at all public school sites in the district. School psychologists help children and youth succeed academically, socially and emotionally. They collaborate with parents, educators and other professionals to create safe, healthy and supportive learning environments for all students. School psychologists support strong connections between home and school. Specific services provided by school 10 tampabay.com/nie psychologists include providing assistance in developing interventions to assist students in both regular and special education programs. They provide counseling and support activities that are tailored to meet special student needs, and they are available to support staff and parents through consultation activities. These professionals also provide individualized psycho-educational evaluations and behavioral assessments in order to improve student achievement and social/emotional functioning. All school psychologists have advanced degrees and many have specialized training and skills in prekindergarten evaluation, neuropsychological assessment and violence characterization. Some are board certified in behavior analysis and some have advanced clinical training. Additional services offered through the department include consultation and intervention during times of crisis. For more information, call School social work services School social work services are available on an itinerant basis in all district elementary, middle and high schools and in special programs, including Head Start and School Readiness. Full-time services are available to select Title I schools. School social workers are highly trained mental health professionals. They provide leadership in areas of crisis intervention and psychosocial assessments. They provide students the opportunity to achieve their maximum potential. School social workers serve as liaisons between the school, family and community agencies. They provide outreach services to students and their families to help them address problems that interfere with student success. School social workers consult with educators to help students with attendance, behavior and/or learning difficulties. Call School health services School Health Services personnel are responsible for health, safety and wellness programs in our schools. School nurses are required to see that all students have a Florida physical and updated immunization shots. The Department of Health designates students in certain grades to be screened for hearing, vision, scoliosis, height, weight and body mass index. School Health Services personnel identify needs in our student population and develop partnerships to address student needs and referral sources. To further improve wellness, many of our schools offer the Healthy Student program. The Healthy Student program offers medical services to students with the goal of identifying a medical home for students. School Health Services staff include advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) and a medical doctor (MD). School Health Services personnel also provide training for CPR and automated external defibrillators (AED), OSHA training and other healthenhancement programs. Medication and procedure information can be found in the Student Handbook. Call Attendance Research shows that student grades and achievement are directly related to being in school every day. Students with higher achievement attend school more often. Help make your child s school years successful by supporting attendance policies. The compulsory attendance law in Florida requires that students ages 6-16 attend school regularly and be on time. If a student who is required to attend school develops a pattern of nonattendance, the staff at the school where the child is enrolled will make every effort to assist parents in resolving school attendance issues. Call STEPS TO ACCESS A SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN (SIP) Go to FLDOE Bureau of School Improvement flbsi.org/sip Select the following: Type of Plan: School Improvement Plan District: Hillsborough School: School Name Click on School Improvement Plan (Read-Only) Click on Open The SIP will open as a Word document FULL SERVICE AND PARENT RESOURCE CENTER(S) The mission of the Full Service Centers is to serve as a support to schools primarily located in the East and West Tampa communities. Full Service Centers provide Hillsborough County School District students, along with their families, academic and infrastructural support necessary for achieving success.

11 The centers coordinate the services of multiple agencies by developing partnerships to provide accessible, quality support to families and individuals who are working toward increased self-sufficiency as well as personal and professional productivity. The Full Service team works with schools, agencies and support systems to help parents pursue their educational goals and work with the educational system. The Full Service Centers are two facilities with one mission; in East Tampa, families may access the Sanchez Full Service Center, located at 2100 E. 26th Ave; and in West Tampa, families may access the Just Full Service Center located at 1315 Spruce St. The facilities offer meeting space for community activities and nontraditional educational opportunities. Additionally, the centers help parents advocate for the needs of their children. For more information, you may call (Sanchez) or (Just). network SEVERELY AND EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED SEDNET is funded by the Florida Department of Education and is a unique system of statewide collaboration essential for the success of students in need of integrated education and treatment services. Call Guidance services Guidance Services provides a comprehensive developmental program to assist students with social/ personal growth, career awareness and academic advisement. Parents and students are provided with information about assessment of individual abilities, college information, postsecondary opportunities, financial aid and scholarships. For more information, contact the school counselor at your child s school. Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) - Response to intervention (RtI) MTSS - RtI is a formalized statewide effort to promote school-wide practices that ensure the highest possible success for all children. The MTSS - RtI framework helps schools take a positive and proactive approach to educating each and every child. It also encourages schools to provide early intervention services to help prevent academic, social-emotional and/or behavioral difficulties early. The district has developed a brochure titled What Parents Should Know About Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). You may access a copy by logging on to sdhc.k12.fl.us. For additional information, contact your child s school directly. Mentoring DISTRICT PARENT RESOURCES Mentoring helps students succeed, achieve and graduate from school. The role of a mentor is to provide a listening ear, valuable guidance and academic assistance to help students experience greater success. As students begin to realize that their mentor cares, school absenteeism decreases, academic performance improves and selfesteem increases. Any responsible adult who is willing and able to share time with a student on a consistent basis can be a mentor. All you need is one hour a week. Mentoring opportunities are provided in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters ( ) and the Hillsborough Education Foundation ( ). Accessing these resources is as easy as this: 1. Log on to our school district s website: sdhc.k12.fl.us. 2. Click on Parent. The page that appears will have these headings: FCAT Explorer, Library, Choice, FACTS.org, Records Request. You also will be able to access information from many other sources. For example, if you click on Elementary Education, the following Web page headings offer parent tips, K-5. Edsby Edsby is the new gradebook for Hillsborough County Public Schools. More than that, Edsby is a cloud-based social learning platform that helps schools and districts transform communication. Whether you re a teacher who wants to communicate with your students, a parent who wants to help your kids plan their homework, a principal who wants to know how the school is running or a student who has to show your parents that you really have done your homework, Edsby is here to help you. Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource System (FDLRS) FDLRS is a statewide network that provides support services to educators, families of students with exceptionalities and community agencies throughout Florida. FDLRS centers provide services in the areas of Child Find, human resource development, print services, parent services and technology. Call Parent Services: (English) and (Spanish) District PARENT publications You can find published materials for parents, students and agencies in Hillsborough County Public Schools on the district website at sdhc.k12.fl.us. Once you have entered the website, you then can select the Parent Community Involvement link under the Quick Links tab in the top-left corner. Now click on the For Parents portion of the window. You will see Documents Page highlighted as a link in the text on this page. Click on this link and the publications will be displayed for you to read. PARENTLINK ParentLink enables schools to contact parents and staff quickly usually within minutes to remind them of school/district events or notify them of emergencies. ParentLink is used for broadcasting personalized messages to multiple communication devices (home phone, cellphone and work phone) simultaneously via a Web-based interface. Other parent resources The Khan Academy website, khanacademy.org, offers a free online collection of video lectures and tutorials. Just for Parents: Project Appleseed: Scholarship opportunities Scholarship opportunities are available at the district website. Visit guidanceservices.mysdhc.org/matrix. We are excited to introduce, a one-of-a-kind, online, academic program available to all students, parents and teachers. is available online 24/7 and can be accessed from any computer or mobile device. Access is free to HCPS parents, students and staff. To Get Started: - Click on the sdhc.k12.fl.us logo on the district website. -Enter the District Code: HCPS - Create a profile with a unique username and password. -Click Login and begin. tampabay.com/nie 11

12 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) The Hillsborough County Public Schools Division of Student Services and Federal Programs provides services from various federal grants to public and private schools meeting specific criteria for the school year, if funding is available. Private school students, their parents and their teachers may receive benefits, services and materials from these programs. Private schools do not receive direct funding from these programs. Hillsborough County Public Schools always maintains control of the funds. This program is part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which includes: Title I, Part A Improving Basic Programs Operated by LEAs/district Title I, Part C Migrant Education Title II, Part A Preparing, Training and Recruiting High Quality Teachers and Principals Title II, Part B Mathematics and Science Partnerships (University of Tampa) Title III, Part A Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students Title IV, Part B 21st Century Community Learning Centers Title X, Part C Education of Homeless Children and Youth Project Carl D. Perkins Grant School Leadership Program Note: Some of the programs listed above are discretionary/ competitive programs, and Hillsborough County Public Schools may not necessarily participate in them. Qualifications of teachers As a parent of a student attending a Hillsborough County public school, you have the right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct your child. Federal law allows you to ask for the following information about your child s classroom teachers: Has the Florida Department of Education licensed or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches? Has the Florida Department of Education decided that the teacher can teach in a classroom without being licensed or qualified? What college did the teacher attend and what was the teacher s major? What are the qualifications of any teachers aides or similar paraprofessionals who provide services to your child? If you would like to receive any of this information, please contact your child s school. No child left behind No Child Left Behind requires schools to develop ways to get parents more involved in their child s education and in improving the school. Parents need to become involved early in their children s education and stay involved throughout the school year. In fact, many studies show that what the family does is more important to a child s school success than how much money the family makes or how much education the parents have. By showing interest in their children s education, parents and families can spark enthusiasm in them and lead them to a very important understanding that learning can be enjoyable as well as rewarding and is well worth the effort required, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Key things parents can do to make sure their children are prepared for the 21st Century Make sure your child understands the importance of math in elementary school and encourage your child to take more math, science and critical language courses in high school. Encourage your elementary school child with his/her math homework. Remind him/her of the importance of learning math for success in high school, college and beyond. Learn your state s math and science requirements for high school graduation. Encourage your child to take four years of math and four years of science in high school, even if it is not required. Find out what kind of critical language courses your child s school offers and encourage your child to take them. Find out what Advanced Placement (AP) courses your child s high school offers. Encourage your child to take more AP courses in high school. Source: Florida Department of Education Does your child attend a Title I school? Title I is a federal program designed to: help children do better in school and receive skills to be successful; provide resources for children to help them achieve their highest potential; encourage parents to be more involved in their children s education; provide opportunities for more teachers and aides in the school; help schools facilitate activities designed to promote family involvement. Have you reviewed your compact? The Title I program has established an initiative for a teacher/parent/student compact that is used in all Title I schools. This compact is an agreement that promotes positive communication and involves the teacher, parent and student in taking responsibility for certain tasks. The three parties meet and discuss the compact and take responsibility for the listed tasks. 12 tampabay.com/nie

13 Common Core State Standards The Common Core State Standards is a state-led effort designed to improve educational outcomes for students by developing a set of consistent, clear K-12 academic standards in English language arts and mathematics. In 2009 the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers convened a group of leading experts to develop K-12 standards for math and English language arts. Currently, 46 states, three U.S. territories and one district have adopted the Common Core State Standards. These standards are relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills young people need to be prepared for both college and work in a global economy. Hillsborough County Public Schools, along with schools throughout the country, are implementing shifts in instruction in mathematics centered on a more focused set of major math concepts and skills. This allows students time to master key math concepts and skills in a more organized way throughout the year and from one grade to the next. It also provides a thought-provoking math content in order to engage students in solving real-world problems in order to encourage greater interest in mathematics. In English language arts and literacy, students continue to read and write. In addition to stories and literature, students read more texts that provide facts and background knowledge in content areas, including science and social studies. They read more challenging texts and are asked more questions that require them to refer back to what they have read. There also is an increased emphasis on building a strong vocabulary so that students can read and understand challenging material. For more information on the Common Core State Standards, check out the following websites: sdhc.k12.fl.us corestandards.org cgcs.org/domain/72 Empowering effective teachers: helping students achieve by helping teachers excel The Empowering Effective Teachers initiative is funded by a seven-year, $100 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Hillsborough County Public Schools was chosen because of its track record for working collaboratively with teachers to institute pay-for-performance incentives for teaching in high-needs schools and other measures to improve schools. The grant enables the school district to take these innovations to the next level. The Empowering Effective Teachers initiative aims to: improve student achievement in Hillsborough County Public Schools through an intense focus on excellence in teaching; ensure every classroom has a highly effective teacher with the proper support; increase the percentage of students who graduate ready for college or a career; create teachers who have a powerful and long-lasting influence. While societal issues play a vital role in shaping students, school districts have a limited ability to impact these forces. Research shows that a teacher s effectiveness has more impact on student learning than any other factor under the control of school systems. In collaboration with the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association (CTA), this initiative focuses on areas that can have an impact. To attract, develop and retain the best teachers, the initiative is transforming the way we approach teacher recruitment, placement, induction, mentoring, evaluation, advancement and compensation. These changes are being designed and implemented with extensive input from teachers. Ongoing input and involvement from the community, as well as teachers, is essential to the long-term success of this initiative. Please share comments and questions by ing greatteachers@sdhc.k12.fl.us. Follow the progress online at empoweringteachers.mysdhc.org. Every citizen in Hillsborough County stands to benefit from the success of this bold initiative. Outstanding public schools are essential to: creating a capable workforce for the future; attracting new companies, residents and investment; helping students grow into responsible citizens who can participate in our democracy; building a community supportive of educators. When students succeed, we all win! tampabay.com/nie 13

14 Rigorous academic opportunities K-12 public school options website: fldoe.org/flbpso Academically Gifted Program Gifted Program services are provided for students who meet the state s criteria for classification as gifted. In Florida, children who are considered gifted are those children with superior intellectual development who are capable of high performance. Services for gifted students are designed to provide for enrichment and/or acceleration opportunities aligned with students education plans. More information about the gifted program can be found at giftedk12. mysdhc.org. Dual Enrollment Dual enrollment is the process by which a student is enrolled in both a high school and a college or university and credit earned applies toward high school elective credit and a college degree. A student may be enrolled full time in a high school and part time in a college or university. Tuition is waived. The student must meet the following requirements: have a minimum cumulative 3.0 unweighted grade point average; meet the required score on the SAT, ACT or PERT as defined by the postsecondary institutions; have prior approval from their school before enrolling in any off-campus dual enrollment course. Dual enrollment courses in the Career and Technical Education Program require an overall minimum cumulative 2.0 unweighted grade point average and minimum cumulative unweighted 2.5 grade point average in the specific Career and Technical Education Program. Advanced Placement (AP) Program The Advanced Placement Program offered by the College Board provides an opportunity for students to earn college credit in certain subject areas. To receive college credit, students must earn a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the College Board examination in that subject area at the end of the school year. Students interested in this program should contact their guidance counselor for further information. HILLSBOROUGH VIRTUAL SCHOOL Hillsborough County Public Schools offers a full-time virtual program in grades K-12 and part-time virtual programs with more than 75 online course options for students in grades 6-12, including robust and rigorous courses such as Honors, Advanced and AP. All courses are taught by HCPS highly qualified and Florida Certified professional educators. Students have access to a wide range of clubs (both academic and social) as well as many academic and extracurricular field trip opportunities throughout the school year. The Hillsborough Virtual Instruction Program expects full-time students to take all standardized tests instituted by Hillsborough County Public Schools and the state of Florida. A full-time high school diploma option is available. Contact the Hillsborough Virtual School at or visit online.mysdhc.org for more information. International Baccalaureate International Baccalaureate (IB) is a rigorous pre-university course of study that meets the needs of the highly motivated and academically talented high school students. It provides students with the intellectual, social and cultural preparation necessary for the adult world. Entrance into a high school IB program is a competitive process that begins when a student enters middle school. Hillsborough County Public Schools also has IB programs at both elementary and middle magnet schools. The IB program at the elementary and middle school level aims to teach the whole child through the process of inquiry, global education and projectbased learning. Selection for elementary and middle school IB programs is done via computer lottery. Early Admission to College A student may, after earning 18 required credits, be excused from the last two semesters of his or her high school experience if he or she is accepted for admission by a public college in the state of Florida. The student must meet the following requirements: have a minimum cumulative 3.5 unweighted grade point average (for USF, GPA is calculated by USF; final admission decision made by USF); meet the required score on the SAT, ACT or PERT as defined by the postsecondary institutions; obtain a written recommendation from the school principal or the principal s representative; attend a public college in the state of Florida; need only English IV, economics and a fourth year of mathematics to graduate. Under the above program, a student may be awarded a diploma after completing two college semesters as a full-time student participating in eligible courses and earn no fewer than 24 semester credits. It is the student s responsibility to furnish the high school with a college transcript for work completed at the end of each semester. The student shall retain any honors earned in high school prior to his or her early admission to college. The student may not earn additional honors (e.g., valedictorian, salutatorian and Tribune Honors). A student under this program shall have the rights and privileges of the Dual Enrollment program if an agreement exists with that college. AVID AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a national program that helps students reach their goal of entering a postsecondary institution. AVID s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society. Potential AVID students are: students in the academic middle first-generation college bound from a diverse background or students who seek assistance to achieve the dream of going to college. AVID equips students with the necessary skills to be successful at the middle school, high school and college levels by enrolling them in rigorous college prep courses such as Advanced Placement and honors. The AVID elective class offers academic support for the students and provides key learning skills, such as organization, note taking, collaboration, test taking and reflective writing. AVID students also have access to tutors for all core academic areas. Currently, AVID is implemented in every high school and middle school. If you would like more information about the program, please see the AVID coordinator or guidance counselor at your child s school. You also can log on to academicprograms.mysdhc.org. EXCELerator The College Board partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the AVID Center to create the EXCELerator program, a comprehensive school improvement program launched in 2006 in selected high schools that has now been implemented in all 73 middle and high schools in the district. The EXCELerator program is designed to help all students, especially underrepresented students, to enter the pipeline to higher education by means of a system based on academic rigor, student counseling and extensive teacher training and support. For additional information, please contact the guidance counselor at your child s school. SpringBoard SpringBoard, the official pre-ap curriculum designed by the College Board, is a unique, comprehensive program that enables students to build the skills and understanding they need for success in AP courses and postsecondary opportunities. SpringBoard provides rigorous English and mathematics curricula for all students in grades 6-12 and builds students critical thinking skills in reading, writing and mathematics. SpringBoard strategies are in alignment with the Common Core State Standards for Success. For additional information, please contact the guidance counselor at your child s school. You also can log on to academicprograms.mysdhc.org. For more information about any of these programs, log on to the district s website at sdhc.k12.fl.us or call tampabay.com/nie

15 Exceptional Student Education (ESE) There are clues that can tell you your young child needs extra help and attention. For example, he or she may: have health problems; seem to have problems seeing or hearing; seem to have problems walking or moving; seem to have problems speaking; or seem to have problems understanding you. Children with special needs can benefit from getting help when they are very young. If you think your infant or toddler has special needs, contact the University of South Florida Department of Pediatrics Early Steps program for children birth to age 3. For children ages 3 to 5, contact Child Find at to request information about services that can help your child and family. Good records will be helpful to you and your child Parents can help themselves, their child and the service providers by keeping their own records. This will make going to meetings and talking to the service coordinator much easier. It also will be helpful if the family ever moves to another county or state. Some families keep a folder at home that includes: evaluation and assessment results; the written family support plan and updates to the plan; letters you have received from public agencies or your service coordinator; records or reports from doctors or other people who have worked with your child; letters or notes from you to public agencies or your service coordinator; notes and dates of telephone calls, meetings, conferences and visits. For more information, log on to ese.mysdhc.org or call the ESE Hotline at Accommodations Provisions will be made for students who have been determined eligible for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) and whose Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) document the need for accommodations, specially designed instruction and/or related services. Accommodations are the provisions that regular and special education teachers make to adjust for students with disabilities for instruction and testing/ assessments. Accommodations involve a wide range of techniques and supports that help students work around the limitations placed upon them because of their disability. Accommodations change how instruction or assessment is delivered, as opposed to modifications, which change what is to be learned by the student. The IEP Team determines the accommodations, specially designed instruction and/or related services that are needed for a student. Remember, you don t have to do it alone. Determining needed services and accommodations for students with disabilities is an IEP Team responsibility. Collaborate and consult with an ESE teacher, general education teacher, school psychologist, school social worker, ESE parent liaison and other school and district personnel. All services and supports required to serve the individual needs of each student are documented on the student s IEP. The majority of students who have been determined eligible for ESE are expected to work toward the state standards for a regular diploma in a general education classroom setting with appropriate services, supports and accommodations. A small percentage of students with disabilities may be working toward the state standards for Access Points. The IEP Team determines these decisions, with the parent serving as a vital member of the team. IDEA improvement act The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act ensures that students with disabilities receive adequate educational opportunities. The U.S. Department of Education asserts that IDEA will: raise expectations for children with disabilities; increase parental involvement in the education of their children; ensure that regular education teachers are involved in planning and assessing children s progress; include children with disabilities in testing, performance goals and reports to the public; support quality professional development for all personnel who are involved in educating children with disabilities; expend a proportionate share of funds each year in providing services to parentally placed private school students with disabilities. tampabay.com/nie 15

16 Hillsborough Choice Options What are Hillsborough Choice Options? Hillsborough Choice Options are a variety of education opportunities from which parents can choose based on their child s needs or interests. Call the Choice Information Line at for application dates and information, or visit the Choice Options website at choice.mysdhc.org. Attendance Area Schools Career & Technical Education Charter Schools Home School McKay Scholarships Magnet Schools and Programs School Choice Virtual School Attendance area schools The school board has established attendance area schools for all students based on their residential address. A student s residence is defined as the residence of his or her parent(s), legal guardian, legal custodian or other such person as defined by any order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction of the state of Florida. Periodically, the school board updates a school attendance boundary. 16 tampabay.com/nie CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) Career and Technical Education instruction is taught from within Florida s 18 career clusters. Students in CTE programs engage in relevant, rigorous and practical applications of academic and technical skills. In addition, Career Academies are small learning communities that consist of teams of academic and CTE teachers who share groups of students, monitor achievement and implement integrated curricula. Essential elements of Career and Technical Education involve earning industry certifications and creating strong partnerships with postsecondary institutions and the community. From middle school through high school and into postsecondary training, the unique support system in CTE prepares students for higher education, the workforce and adult life. For more information, call Career and Technical Education at or go to sdhc.k12.fl.us/cte. Career centers Career centers are high schools that provide students who are at least a year behind their peers academically a second opportunity to graduate from high school at an accelerated pace while getting started with academic and technical training that will assist them in pursuing a postsecondary technical education or entering college, the workforce or the military. Students applying to a career center must be at least 16 years old, be attending middle or high school and have a satisfactory discipline record. There are four career centers that serve students who live in the geographical area of each campus. For more information, please call Charter schools Charter schools are public elementary, middle and high schools that are independently operated and have a contract with the Hillsborough County School Board. To apply, the parent or guardian must contact the school directly. For information, call the Charter Office at , or visit sdhc.k12.fl.us/ charter. Hillsborough Virtual School Hillsborough County Public Schools offers both part-time and full-time virtual programs for students in grades K-12. For more information, visit online.mysdhc.org or call Home education Home education is defined by Florida Statute as sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent in order to satisfy the attendance requirements of SS , (4) and (1). Call the Home Education Office at for information or visit sdhc.k12.fl.us/ homeeducation. John M. McKay scholarships The John M. McKay Scholarship option is a state-operated voucher program for exceptional education students with Individual Education Plans. For questions regarding the John M. McKay Scholarship program, visit the website at floridaschoolchoice.org, call the Florida Department of Education Office of Independent Education at or call the school district s Exceptional Student Education office at Magnet schools Magnet schools offer theme-based curricula at elementary, middle and high schools. Themes include world studies; environmental studies; engineering; performing arts; architecture; creative sciences; gifted/talented development; health professions; math, science and technology; international studies, collegiate academy; animal science; boys preparatory and girls preparatory academies; International Baccalaureate. Call the Choice Information Line at or visit sdhc.k12.fl.us/magnet. School choice School choice provides parents and guardians with children entering grades K-11 the opportunity to choose three nonmagnet schools or career and technical education programs. Parents can choose from a list of schools with space available. Visit choice.mysdhc.org or call the Choice Information Line at for application dates and information.

17 Other programs Adult education programs Underage GED Program (16- and 17-year-old students) Adult Education GED Program on-campus and online Adult Basic Education (ABE) Adult ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Adult high school standard diploma online and on campus Family literacy services National Farm Worker Jobs Program (for migrants) Adult Literacy Volunteer Program (SERVE) Homebuilders Institute (HBI) Project Craft Florida Ready to Work/Career Pathways Citizenship Classes For information, please call workforce and continuing education Workforce and Continuing Education provides adult students access to postsecondary training opportunities that lead to industry certifications, state licensing and the workforce. Short-term classes are available that enhance current skills, while technical programs assist students in acquiring the credentials needed for a career change. Four Hillsborough Technical Education Centers (HiTEC) offer flexible schedules along with financial aid and job placement assistance. Many of the programs articulate to local and state colleges and/or universities. Find available programs by visiting the LYNX searchable database at sdhc.k12.fl.us/lynx. For more information about workforce and continuing education, call or visit GoHiTEC.org. Advance/kids and canines Advance is a dropout prevention/truancy program for students who have difficulty with school attendance. The program is located on the school campus of the Dorothy Thomas Exceptional Center in North Tampa. For more information, please call ATOSS (Alternative To Out-of-School Suspension) ATOSS is the district s suspension amnesty program for students who have been suspended from school as a consequence for inappropriate behavior. There are 12 ATOSS sites throughout the county that service middle and high school students only. Call District bilingual guidance counselor, guidance services Bilingual counselors address the needs of K-12 refugee, immigrant and English language learner (ELL) populations. The bilingual guidance counselors directly assist schoolbased counselors and staff in the coordination and delivery of guidance services in communicating with ELL students/parents. These services include, but are not limited to, translation and evaluation of foreign transcripts, other academic records and final K-12 student placement; Spanish language educational groups for students/ parents; participation in K-12 Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings, both school based and at the district level (DAC); development of ELL-related in-service and materials for training of K-12 guidance counselors and other support personnel; and participation in communitybased groups that address the needs of the Hispanic community in Hillsborough County. For assistance, please call , or ELL programs and ESOL services Districts are required to provide appropriate educational programs and services for all students who are classified as English Language Learners (ELL). School districts throughout the state are mandated by federal and state laws to survey and screen all students who are new to the district to determine their levels of English proficiency. Districts also are required to provide appropriate education programs and services for all students who are classified as ELL. The district provides English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services to more than 25,000 students who are enrolled throughout the district. Students who have a language other than English spoken in their home and who, after assessment, are determined to be limited in their English proficiency are eligible for ESOL services. For more information, please call the ELL department at Individually Motivated Performance Assisted by Computer Technology (IMPACT) This is a performance-based program that provides opportunities for high school students who are overage for their grade level to graduate with a standard high school diploma. Computer-assisted instruction, combined with career/technical program completion, allows students who lack credits to graduate with their peer group. Parents must agree for students to graduate through either the standard option or through the state of Florida performance-based exit option. For more information, please call Literacy and acculturation center The Literacy and Acculturation Center (LAC) is a division of the Office of Programs for English Language Learners (ELL). The mission of the LAC is to provide meaningful services to the immigrant refugee community through social services partnerships and the development of a systems navigation structure for academic, psychological and social supplementary services for school-age children and their families. For more information, please call Programs for specialized populations The Teen Parent Program is a voluntary program provided by Hillsborough County Public Schools. It is designed to meet the needs of expectant youth and teen parents. Teen Parent Program (TPP) Traditional Program Teen Parent Program (TPP) Center-Based Program For information, please call myon Reader provides anytime, anywhere access to an expanding online collection (currently more than 3,000 titles!) of digital books with multimedia support, including an embedded dictionary, text highlighting and audio. All Hillsborough County Public School (HCPS) students up to eighth grade have a login to access myon. If you are an HCPS student, to log in go to myon.com and enter the name of your school, your user ID (your seven-digit student number) and your password (your birthday month and year; example: July 2005= ). You can access myon Reader online at any school computer, on your home computer, on many mobile devices (including Android and ipad) or at any public library! To learn more about this community effort, go to readonmyon.com. myon reader provides any0me, anywhere access to an expanding online collec0on (currently more than ;,000 0tles!) of digital booas with mul0media support including an embedded dic0onary, text highligh0ng, and audio. All Hillsborough County Public School (HCPS) students up to 8 th grade have a login to access myon. If you are an HCPS student, to log in go to and enter the name of your school, your user ID (your seven- digit student number) and your password (your birthday month and year; example: July 2005= ). You can access myon reader online at any school computer, on your home computer, on many mobile devices (including adroid and ipad) or at any public library! To learn more about this community effort go to tampabay.com/nie 17

18 Hillsborough County Public Schools Adams Advantage Academy Charter Schools Alafia Alexander Alonso Alt. Ed. - Non DJJ Anderson Aparicio-Levy Technical Center Apollo Beach Armwood Bailey Ballast Point Barrington Bartels Bay Crest Bell Creek Academy Charter Bellamy Benito Bevis Bing Blake Magnet Bloomingdale Bowers-Whitley Career Center Boyette Springs Brandon Brandon Alternative Brewster Technical Center Brooker Brooks-DeBartolo Charter Broward Bryan Plant City Bryant Buchanan Buckhorn Burnett Burney Burns Cahoon Magnet Caminiti ESE Cannella Carrollwood Carver ESE Chamberlain Channelside Academy of Math and Science Charter Chiaramonte Chiles Cimino Citrus Park Clair Mel Clark Claywell Cleveland Coleman Collins Colson Community Charter Cork Corr Crestwood Cypress Creek Davidsen Davis Davis ESE Deer Park DeSoto Dickenson Doby Dorothy Thomas ESE Dover Dowdell Magnet Dunbar Magnet Durant East Bay Edison Egypt Lake Eisenhower Erwin Technical Center Essrig Farnell Ferrell Girls Prep Academy FishHawk Creek Florida Autism Charter Focus Academy Charter Folsom Forest Hills Foster Franklin Boys Prep Academy Freedom Frost Gaither Gary Adult Technical Center Gibsonton Giunta Gorrie Grady Graham Greco Hammond Haven Poe ESE Henderson Hammock Charter Heritage Hill Hillsborough Academy of Math and Science Charter Hillsborough Magnet Hillsborough Virtual Hunter s Green Ippolito Jackson James Jefferson Magnet Jennings Just Kenly Kid s Community College Charter Kid s Community College Middle Charter Kids Community College SE Charter Kimbell King s Kids Academy of Health Science Charter King Magnet Kingswood Knights Lake Magdalene Lanier LaVoy ESE Learey Technical Center Learning Gate Charter Lee Magnet Lennard Magnet Leto Magnet Lewis Liberty Limona Lincoln Magnet tampabay.com/nie

19 Literacy/Leadership/ Technology Academy Charter Lithia Springs Lockhart Magnet Lomax Magnet Lopez Lopez ESE Lowry Lutz Lutz Preparatory Charter Mabry MacFarlane Park Magnet Madison Mango Maniscalco Mann Marshall Martinez McDonald McKitrick McLane Memorial Mendenhall Mendez Center Metropolitan Ministries Partnership Middleton Magnet Miles Mintz Mitchell Monroe Morgan Woods Mort MOSI Partnership Mount Pleasant Charter Muller Magnet Mulrennan Nature s Classroom Nelson Newsome New Springs Charter North Tampa Alternative Northwest Oak Grove Oak Park Orange Grove Magnet Palm River Pepin Academy Charter W. E. Phillips Learning Academy Charter Pierce Pinecrest Pivot Charter Pizzo Plant Plant City Potter Pride Progress Village Magnet Rampello Downtown K-8 Magnet Randall RCMA Leadership Academy Charter RCMA Wimauma Charter Reddick Richardson Montessori Charter Riverhills Riverview Elementary Riverview High Robinson Elementary Robinson High Magnet Robles Rodgers Roland Park Magnet Roosevelt Ruskin Schmidt Schwarzkopf Seffner Seminole Seminole Heights HS Charter Sessums Shaw Sheehy Shields Sickles Shiloh Charter Schools Shore Magnet Simmons Career Center Simmons ESE Center Sligh Magnet Smith South County Career Center Spoto Springhead Steinbrenner Stewart Magnet Stowers Strawberry Crest Magnet Sulphur Springs Summerfield Summerfield Crossings Symmes Tampa Bay Boulevard Tampa Bay Technical Magnet Tampa Charter Tampa Palms Teen Parent East Teen Parent West Temple Terrace Terrace Community Charter Thonotosassa Tinker Tomlin Town and Country Trapnell Trinity Charter Schools Turkey Creek Turner Twin Lakes Valrico Valrico Lake Advantage Charter Van Buren Village of Excellence Charter Walden Lake Walker Magnet Walton Academy Charter B.T. Washington Waters Career Center Webb West University Charter High West Shore West Tampa Westchase Wharton Williams Magnet Willis Peters ESE Wilson Elementary Wilson Middle Wimauma Winthrop Charter Witter Woodbridge Woodmont Charter Yates Young Magnet Youth Services (DJJ Program) tampabay.com/nie 19

20 Who to call For a complete listing of Hillsborough County Public Schools, please access our website at sdhc.k12.fl.us/schools/printableschoolslist.asp or call CrimeStoppers TIPS (8477) Website: CRIMESTOPPERSTB.com Helpline telephone numbers Abuse Hotline (children, disabled or elderly) or * Adult Emergency Services Children s Crisis Unit at Mental Health Care Crisis Center of Tampa Bay Inc... ** Flori da Substance Abuse Hotline or Tampa Bay 24 hours or ** Hillsborough County Information Line... ** Kids Behavior Helpline (children with ADD, ADHD, EH, SED) Life Center of the Suncoast (support for grief counseling: suicide, death or dying) ParentLink Helpline PARENT (7368) Poison Information Center Suic ide Prevention Services or TALK (8255)... ** Teen Link Helpline TEEN (8336) The Spring (domestic violence) * Text telephone (TTY) ** Voice or text telephone (TTY) Who to call at the district School Administrative Center Adult Education Workforce and Continuing Education Out of School Time Programs: HOST (K-12) , ext. 3 Alternative Education Career and Technical Education Charter Schools Choice Information Line County Council of PTA/PTSA Exceptional Student Education FDLRS (Florida Diagnostic Learning Resources System) FDLRS Parent Services English Spanish Teen Parent Program Early Childhood (Pre-K Exceptional Education) , ext. 291 Head Start Child Care Resource and Referral School Readiness Programs (subsidized childcare) , ext. 226 Volu ntary Pre-kindergarten Hillsborough County Public Schools 2013 & Summer Program Volu ntary Pre-kindergarten Private Provider School Year & Summer Program , select 3 Area leadership Directors Area 1 Schools Valerie Orihuela Area 2 Schools Lisa Yost Area 3 Schools Brenda Grasso Area 4 Schools Henry Washington Area 5 Schools Sherrie Sikes Area 6 Schools Jerry Jackson Area 7 Schools Larry Sykes Area 8 Schools Christopher Farkas Communications Elementary Education GED Testing Guidance Services Health Services High School Education Middle School Education Migrant Title I Parent/Family and Community Involvement Full-Service Parent Resource Centers Prog rams for English Language Learners Hillsborough Choice Options (Student Planning & Placement) Choice Information Line Magnet Programs School Boundaries Security Student Nutrition Application Center Meal status/meal prepay Student Services and Federal Programs Superintendent s Office Transportation Virtual School The School Board of Hillsborough County, Florida, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, disability or age in its programs, services, activities or hiring and employment practices. School Board Policy 1122 ensures equal opportunity for all in its personnel policies and practices. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding Title IX nondiscrimination regulations and requirements: Charles W. Raburn, General Manager of Employee Relations, Title IX Coordinator ; charles.raburn@sdhc.k12.fl.us; Division of Human Resources, 901 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, Florida tampabay.com/nie